Accurate estimation of workpiece dimension in plunge grinding without sizing gauge

In the cylindrical grinding process, the residual grinding allowance is left owing to the rubbing of the abrasive grains and the elastic deformation of the grinding system caused by the large normal grinding force. Therefore, a sizing gauge is generally used to monitor the workpiece diameter during the process. However, the sizing gauge disturbs the grinding operations, such as loading and unloading the workpiece. In this study, a new method for estimating the grinding stock of a ground workpiece is proposed. In the proposed method, the grinding stock can be estimated without a sizing gauge. The removed volume of the workpiece can be calculated from the power consumption of the wheel motor, which is easily measured. Before the grinding experiments, the specific grinding energy is determined from several grinding results. During the grinding process, the grinding stock of the ground workpiece was estimated using the determined specific grinding energy. It was confirmed that the grinding stock could be accurately estimated under several grinding conditions.